Casino workers are making a straightforward pitch to Atlantic City operators: ditch indoor smoking and you'll bring customers back. That's the message from CEASE, an employee advocacy group pushing for a smoke-free casino floor, as the industry grapples with serious headwinds from online gambling and competition from New York City venues.

The Case for Going Smoke-Free

Pete Naccarelli, CEASE co-founder and table game dealer, argues the numbers speak for themselves. With the Atlantic County Economic Alliance warning that over 8,000 casino jobs are at risk, operators need to think strategically about what keeps people coming through the door. A smoke-free environment, he contends, is exactly that kind of draw.

Look, it's a reasonable position. Plenty of consumers prefer venues without tobacco smoke. Remove that barrier, and you remove one genuine reason someone might stay home instead. CEASE is calling on state lawmakers to pass legislation that would eliminate the exemption Atlantic City casinos currently enjoy under New Jersey's 2006 Smoke-Free Air Act.

Legislative Momentum Stalled

The political groundwork has actually been laid. Back in 2022 and 2023, smoking ban legislation drew serious bipartisan support. Senate Bill 264 had 23 of the state's 40 senators behind it. Over in the Assembly, companion bill A-2151 commanded 56 votes in an 80-seat chamber. Despite that support, neither bill reached a vote.

New Jersey isn't alone here. Kansas saw similar legislation fail this year, and the issue continues to stall in other states as well.

The Casino Industry's Counter-argument

Naturally, casino operators aren't convinced. In 2022, the Casino Association of New Jersey commissioned Spectrum Gaming to model the impact. The findings were sobering: a full smoking ban could reduce brick-and-mortar gaming revenue by nearly 11% in year one, potentially cutting gaming tax revenue by $44 million and costing up to 2,500 jobs.

That's the kind of number that makes politicians nervous. Especially when you're talking about a state's signature industry.

The Research Gets Murkier

Here's where it gets interesting. Even researchers have pushed back on the Spectrum findings. Dr. Geoff Atkinson, senior marketing research manager at Management Science Associates (a Spectrum affiliate), suggested during a 2025 webinar that the evidence isn't nearly as clear-cut as the study implied. He noted the data doesn't clearly show that allowing smoking or going smoke-free provides any significant competitive advantage either way.

That's the uncomfortable middle ground. Neither side has an ironclad case based purely on evidence. Which means this becomes a values debate as much as an economic one.

Leadership Changes at Bally's

In other Atlantic City news, Bally's has appointed Tom Pohlman as its new president. Pohlman previously helmed Golden Nugget Atlantic City and held the distinction of being the city's longest-serving casino general manager before stepping down earlier this year. His appointment reflects ongoing operational shifts in the market.